The Ag Council offers leadership opportunities for members within the organization and beyond. We possess ability to support individuals interested in serving on state and national agricultural boards and advisory committees. Our goal is to identify and promote agriculture leaders of today, while fostering an environment for future leaders to grow and thrive.
Each year, the Ag Council aids members interested in serving in these positions. Those responsible for making and approving appointments depend heavily on the Ag Council for insight and guidance on prospective participants.
In addition to external leadership opportunities, there are multiple opportunities within the Ag Council membership to be active in the decision making and policy development level. Participation among membership is strongly recommended and important in determining the activities of the Ag Council.
Leadership Opportunities
Ag Council of Arkansas Board of Directors:
Members of the Ag Council of Arkansas may be nominated by the Executive Committee (Executive Officers; the 3 Most Recent Past Presidents with Active Memberships; and 4 Board Members Selected by the President) to serve as a member fo the Board of Directors. Nominations are approved by the Board of Directors each year. About Us
Research and Promotion Boards:
The Ag Council of Arkansas supports research and promotion efforts for various commodities grown and harvested in Arkansas, and we've been involved in these programs since their inception. These programs support research efforts aimed at advancing the growth and prosperity of Arkansas farmers for each commodity. They also provide investments in driving demand and support for farmers and the specific commodities they grow.
Historically, we've been closely involved in helping Arkansas governors identify and select qualified individuals to serve in these important leadership roles.
We encourage our members to consider participating in these important programs by applying to serve on the commodity boards and communicating views with the various boards to help guide the programs and their investments.
As of 2023 Individuals wishing to serve are required to apply through a web portal established by the Office of the Governor. This portal is required for all boards and commissions in state government. If you apply for this position and wish to receive consideration of support from the Ag Council, we encourage you to inform us of your application by emailing andrew.grobmyer@agcouncil.net.
Application Information
Office of the Governor homepage for boards and commissions: https://governor.arkansas.gov/our-office/boards-commissions/
Director of Boards & Commissions for Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders: Alex Flemister | alex.flemister@governor.arkansas.gov | (501) 551-6650
Application Web Portal: https://governor.arkansas.gov/online-services/join-the-administration/
Corn and Grain Sorghum Research and Promotion Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its members who grow corn or grain sorghum to participate in the Corn and Grain Sorghum Research and Promotion Board by applying to serve on the commodity board and by communicating views with the board to help guide the programs and their investments.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
Soybean Research and Promotion Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its members who grow soybeans to participate in the Soybean Research and Promotion Board by applying to serve on the commodity board and by communicating views with the board to help guide the programs and their investments.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
Rice Research and Promotion Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its members who grow rice to participate in the Rice Research and Promotion Board by applying to serve on the commodity board and by communicating views with the board to help guide the programs and their investments.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
Wheat Research and Promotion Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its members who grow wheat to participate in the Wheat Research and Promotion Board by applying to serve on the commodity board and by communicating views with the board to help guide the programs and their investments.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
Arkansas State Plant Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its members who are eligible to serve as a industry representive on the Arkansas State Plant Board to by apply for such service. It's important that each eligible industry segment is represented. We encourage all Ag Council members to communicate views with the State Plant Board and its appointed members to help guide the programs and their investments.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
*nomination and appointment processes as well as administrative functions were changed in the statutes related to state government boards and commissions listed above during the 94th General Assembly during its legislative session in the first quarter of 2023. These boards and commissions will be housed and administrated under the Arkansas Department of Agriculture. Individuals wishing to serve must apply via the web portal shown above.
Other Leadership Opportunities:
Ag Comp Self Insurer Fund Board of Directors
The membership of the Ag Council of Arkansas founded the AgComp Self Insurer Fund to provide a group workers' compensation insurance program for agricultural related businesses in Arkansas. The Fund and the Program are managed by Ag Council members elected to serve as a fund manager.
Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation
The Ag Council of Arkansas encourages its cotton farmer members to consider serving as a representative to the eligible Arkansas Cotton Growers Foundation (Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation) tasked with operating the Arkansas Boll Weevil Eradication Program. This Foundation Board acts as a subcommittee to the State Plant Board for actions related to boll weevil eradictation efforts. Eligible persons must be cotton growers and farm in designated zones. Application information and process is the same as mentioned above for research and promotion boards.
STATUTE*
WEBSITE
(*see note above)
National Cotton Council
The Ag Council of Arkansas is a Certified Producer Interest Organization for the National Cotton Council (NCC). Our organization helps select leadership for the NCC, including positions for various segments of the industry to represent Arkansas, the Mid-South Region, and the United States.
WEBSITE
Cotton State Support Program
The Ag Council of Arkansas actively supports the Arkansas Cotton State Support Program, which determines cotton research priorities for Arkansas cotton farmers. While no formal structure exists for membership to the State Support Group, all cotton farmers from the Ag Council are encouraged to participate in this working group. Funding decisions are made at their meetings, which are managed and funded by the Cotton Board.
COTTON BOARD WEBSITE
COTTON INCORPORATED WEBSITE
Cotton Board
The Ag Council of Arkansas helps recommend to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) individuals to serve on the Cotton Board to represent Arkansas. The Cotton Board is the oversight and administrative arm of the Cotton Research & Promotion Program, representing U.S. Upland cotton. The Cotton Board is responsible for providing the Program with strategic leadership and oversight of the economic resources devoted to the Program. Interested applicants should return completed form to andrew.grobmyer@agcouncil.net.
WEBSITE | Application Form | More Info from Cotton Board
Cotton Incorporated
The Ag Council helps recommend individuals to serve on the board of Cotton Incorporated. Cotton Incorporated is a not-for-profit company and the sole contractor to the Cotton Board—the organization that oversees the collection of assessments on sales of raw U.S. Upland cotton fiber and on the imports of products containing Upland cotton into the United States. Cotton Incorporated is guided in its activities by the Cotton Incorporated Board of Directors, comprised of U.S. cotton growers; and the Cotton Board Board of Directors, comprised of U.S. cotton growers and importers. Cotton Incorporated provides the resources and research needed to help companies develop and market superior, innovative, and profitable cotton products. The company’s efforts are focused across every area of the cotton life cycle from fiber through finished product. Interested applicants should contact andrew.grobmyer@agcouncil.net.
WEBSITE
Cotton Foundation Programs
The Ag Council of Arkansas helps facilitate participation in annual leadership programs offered by the Cotton Foundation and the National Cotton Council. These programs include the Producer Information Exchange (PIE) Tour, Emerging Leaders Program (ELP), and the Multi-Commodity Exchange Program (MCEP). The PIE tour is an opportunity for cotton farmers from the Mid-South region to travel outside of its production region to other cotton growing regions of the United States in an effort to learn about different production and processing practices and to get to know other producers from across the country and exchange ideas between them. The ELP program is a comprehensive offering to cotton producers seeking to learn more about the U.S. cotton industry, the wide array of policy issues they face, and the importance of being active and effective in advocating among policymakers. The MCEP program is an opportunity for U.S. cotton growers from across the country to travel to other parts of the country to learn about other commodities grown in the the U.S. These tours provide cotton growers with an examination into the similarities and differences between various commodities, and it offers an opportunity for the cotton industry to develop new relationships and partnerships that can benefit the U.S. cotton industry in policy development.
WEBSITE
Agricultural Halls of Fame
The Ag Council of Arkansas is available to help with the nominations of individuals to a variety of agricultural halls of fame designed to recognize those who have achieved significant success in their lifetime in agriculture business. These include the Arkansas Agriculture Hall of Fame and the U.S. Cotton Research and Promotion Hall of Fame. The Ag Council of Arkansas also holds a seat on the Arkansas Ag Hall of Fame selection committee. In addition, we often help nominate and support individuals to a variety of other award recognitions in agriculture, and we stand ready to help promote Arkansans for those awards.
Other Allied Agricultural Groups
https://agcouncil.net/services/leadership/other-allied-agricultural-groups/
“Many Ag Council members serve on statewide promotion boards and in various commodity organizations, so the information we share with each other is critical to our businesses. I also like that the Ag Council provides the opportunity to help shape policies that impact my business.”
-producer, Monroe County, AR